Public Health - Flinders University

Public Health graduates are in demand to address global health challenges and protect communities.

What does a career in public health look like?

Public Health professionals can follow their passion choosing distinctive career pathways, addressing bio-medical, research, and social determinants of population health and equity, Indigenous health, economic factors, and global approaches to health issues, such as obesity and heart disease.

As a public health professional, you will perform essential services that protect our communities. You might monitor the health status of a community to identify potential problems, diagnose and investigate health problems and hazards in the community or inform, educate, and empower people about health issues, particularly the underserved and those at risk.

You may develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts, enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety or link people to needed personal health services and ensure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.

Employment growth

Australian Jobs 2018

Study options

Undergraduate Certificate in Public Health

Bachelor of Public Health

Graduate Certificate in Public Health

Master of Public Health

Graduate Certificate in Health Promotion

Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health Practice

Master of Environmental Health

Potential occupations

Graduates are expected to progress into employment in public health policy, management and practice that includes the following potential occupations:

public health officer
health administrator
public health senior consultant
health promotion planning and evaluation officer
health information officer
health and safety manager
epidemiologist/research analyst
public health project manager
academia

Potential employers

World Health Organisation
government departments of health in policy, surveillance, health promotion, drug and alcohol services
research and higher education settings
community organisations such as the Heart Foundation and Cancer Council

Accreditation

Professionally accredited programs with globally recognised qualifications that increase your job opportunities worldwide.

Our Masters of Public Health degrees meet the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) and aligns with the Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australia (CAPHIA)

Join us online all year round

Open Days 365 offers a range of ways to find out everything you need to know about study at Flinders.

Dr Amalia Dwi Susanti, Master of Public Health 2019

“
In my studies at Flinders, one of the most fundamental skills that I learnt was critical thinking. The academic staff encouraged us to analyse scenarios in different perspectives and from a range of viewpoints. I learnt to think more broadly and apply outcomes from previous cases with practical knowledge and considered theory: this is already a significant attribute for me professionally, and an asset for my employers.”

Why study Public Health at Flinders?

Unique, fascinating topics that are relevant to the here and now

Social determinants of health
Epidemiology and biostatistics
Health economics
Critical practice in Indigenous health.

Connect with industry leaders

To learn to become critical consumers of the medical and health literature
To understand the basis and impacts of health and related policy at local, national and international level and be able to contribute to their development
Gain skills and experiences making a real-world difference
Connect with active globally recognised researchers working at the forefront of their field
In-demand jobs and career prospects globally.

Flexible delivery and study options

Flexible delivery – face-to-face and online
Wide range of optional topics, support for cross-institutional learning.

Learn from top quality experts

Taught by active researchers in each field, many of whom are part of Flinders’ world-renowned Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity
High-quality supervision of dissertation students
Experienced supervisors with expertise in a wide range of areas and methodologies
Emphasis on research skills development.

Get inspired

Professor Nicola Spurrier, Chief Public Health Officer, SA Health delivered the October 2020 Chalmers Oration on the topic “Leadership in a time of crisis and key learnings for a post-COVID world.”

Dr Amalia Dwi Susanti, Master of Public Health 2019

Dr Kwan Leung Chia: on the pandemic frontline in Hong Kong

Precious Farounbi, Master of Public Health student

EXPLORE
OTHER CAREERS
IN HEALTH

There are amazing careers in health all over the world for you to discover.

Uncover your passion

Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity

The Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity leads high quality scholarship on the social and economic determinants of health and health equity.

In 2020 the Southgate Institute was designated as the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Social, Political and Commercial Determinants of Health Equity.

Frequently asked questions

What is public health?

Public Health is defined as “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts of society” (Acheson, 1988; WHO). This public health definition is incorporated into all aspects of our degree offerings. Our courses are multidisciplinary, have a lens on the social determinants of health, and focus on research training.

Why should I consider a public health degree?

Public Health professionals:

can experience job security and professional variety in their public health careers
have an ability to impact health directly at community level
participate in advocacy to improve health
have a worldwide impact by contributing to involvement in international health initiatives.